Greetings, readers. This is the beginning of my first Harry Potter fic, since I love alternate universe scenarios. I can't explain very much; you'll have to read on to find out more. I can say that this fanfic focuses on multiple characters and will probably change point of views often. In this, some roles will be reversed, while others will be similar to what they were in canon. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter; all material concerning Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling.

Shadow of Light

Prologue: The End

They were waiting.

Exactly what they were waiting for, no one knew. They might have been waiting simply for the rain to cease cascading from the sky. They might have been waiting for the tears to stop flowing from mourner's faces, joining the rain in the mud. Each was pointed upwards, looking up as if the dark clouds could part, and offer some sort of hope for them. Yet despite this, most of them knew that it was virtually impossible. In one night, their world had shattered.

All they could do was salute the Fallen One.

Time lost all meaning at that point; they felt as though they could have waited for days, weeks, even. Their eyes reflected the despair that emanated from each person before the gravesite, knowing that this was only the beginning. There were some who stood with hardened expressions, or blank expressions, but not a single happy face was present in the crowd. In this place of death, they were more vulnerable than ever- open to the darkness that clawed hungrily at the country of Great Britain.

A single green flash of light had extinguished all hope.

Hours later, there were only two who stood by the tomb. Both were men, and they stood approximately three feet apart from each other. One stared at the grave with a mixture of hatred and bitterness, while the other appeared to have genuine regret on his face. They could not contrast each other more; dark brown, light blond; dark eyed, blue eyed. And yet those who could say they knew them well would say that their souls were not so very different.

"I find myself wondering what you would be doing here," said the dark one, breaking the tense silence between them at last. He didn't bother to look at the other, eyes still fixed upon the grave, his expression carefully blank. His features were handsome, and one could see that he was a charismatic sort of person when not showing hostility, as he was doing now.

"I would ask the same thing," retorted the other, surprisingly quiet. "He was, after all, my friend."

The laugh that came from the first was high pitched and cold.

"Spoken like a true murderer," he replied, sounding like he really was amused. "Yet I sense no guilt from you. Tell me, then; why have you returned?" This time he turned his head slightly. "Merely to gloat? I know that isn't it, that's below you; or perhaps you wish to pay your respects and beg for forgiveness? That fool would have given it to you, you know, but no; that was never enough."

The second was handsome like the first, but with a more roguish look. His hair fell into his eyes, and there was the ghost of a playful grin on his face. However, at the first's words, he merely sighed into the wind, his gaze still fixed upon the tomb.

"He could have had it all," he murmured, more to himself than anything. "But he threw away the chance. We could have been masters of death itself."

This time, the laugh that erupted was almost a shriek, and didn't seem to suit the dark haired figure's appearance. He almost bent over this time, cracking up in mirth, while the other steadfastly ignored him. Today he had vowed not to kill, and he always kept his promises. No matter how the other baited him, he refused to rise to it.

"You seek to defeat death?" The dark one looked away, still quaking with amusement. "You believe that three mere items give you all the power you need to defeat that monstrosity? A cloak to hide you from it, a stone to humiliate it, and a wand to defeat it- but what will you do when age begins rotting you from the inside out? Surely these questions must be gnawing at you already; you would not be so foolish as to delay in seeking the answers, would you?"

The blond one smoothly drew his wand, studying it with fascination, before finally choosing to turn over to the other and meet his eyes. Black and blue, like bruises.

"It is clear to me that you do not understand the true power of the Hallows," he said, sighing. "Do you really not desire to hold a wand that will always overpower others? It killed what many claimed to be the greatest wizard in history, and yet you still believe that the Hallows will not protect me from such things. The wand, as well as the others, is nothing short of extraordinary."

"You've simply hit upon my point," said the first, smiling coldly. "I do not need the wand; I am already extraordinary."

"So you say…" murmured the other, but he now looked thoughtful, and turned back to the burial site. He tapped his chin with his finger. "I can understand why the Stone would not appeal to you; after all, you fear the dead. But the cloak…"

"I have already stated my disinterest. My reasons are mine and mine alone."

A pause.

"Have you considered my offer?"

"Consider it declined."

"That's a shame," said the light one with a long sigh. "Now then, I really do have business to attend to." Another pause. "Only a fool would deny that he was a great wizard, don't you agree?"

The first gave a jerk of the head, which could be indicated as a nod. The contempt in his eyes was clear.

"I… have my own agendas for today."

"As do I."

Neither one moved.

It kept raining.

The dark wizard Grindelwald had been terrorizing the European mainland for years. Pleas for help were thrown at Hogwarts' esteemed headmaster, but their calls went unanswered for the longest time, while horror gripped the continent. Great Britain was peaceful, yes, but guilt ate away at the headmaster for years, until finally he made the decision to end it all.

He confronted Grindelwald, and the two engaged in a spectacular duel. They appeared to be evenly matched with one another, but then it shrank down to a contest of unspoken magic. They did not even need specific incantations; their wands did whatever they wanted. It came down to a contest of power.

Grindelwald won, and Albus Dumbledore fell, hit by a Killing Curse. Just like that, the hope of the Wizarding World was gone.

There were thousands present at his funeral, content to stand vigil despite the foul weather. His brother, Aberforth, did not attend.

Minerva McGonagall, who had replaced Dumbledore as the Transfiguration teacher at Hogwarts, ascended to become the youngest Headmistress ever to lead the school. She was also the one who made a dangerous decision- the decision to allow Tom Marvolo Riddle to become the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. He did nothing suspicious while teaching, and befriended many of the staff members. Minerva herself was succeeded by Dorcas Meadowes, a former Auror.

Many years after Dumbledore's death, Grindelwald set his sights on the island that had supposedly escaped his notice previously. In his first attack, the village of Ottery St. Catchpole was completely decimated, scaring the wits out of many witches and wizards. When more raids began in earnest, and several of the darker families joined forces with Grindelwald, everyone was surprised at who decided to act.

Tom Riddle, who had already gotten into several disagreements with the Ministry of Magic regarding his teachings, took matters into his own hands, forming the Shadow Alliance, of which he was leader. The purpose of the name was to strike fear into the enemy, but it did not succeed; Grindelwald's followers, bloated by power, merely laughed- until one of their prime fighters came close to death in the Alliance's first attempt at revenge. Some families who had allied with Grindelwald turned back- especially when it was announced that Riddle was the Heir of Slytherin.

However, there were members of all four houses joining, wanting nothing more than the safety of their loved ones. One such person was Amelia Bones, the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement; another was Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody, and then Minerva McGonagall herself became a prominent member. Mostly, however, people only caught rumors, as the Alliance only leaked to press what they wanted to leak.

However, Grindelwald had uncountable numbers at his command, and he was relentless. Many died, and he was crushing the resistance, despite the Shadow Alliance's efforts. Years passed, and more people joined each side. The Shadow Alliance gained James Potter, Lily Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Severus Snape, and Andromeda Tonks.

However, when Grindelwald learned about the one thing that could end him, he went beserk, very nearly destroying Tom Riddle in a duel. He failed, but vowed to use all of his resources to stop it.

Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy joined his side, able to provide him valuable information.

Yes… in 1980, Great Britain was hanging on by a thread. And it weakened day by day.

"In the end, there will be one;

One to pierce the darkness.

Three will gather, but only one will prevail.

The second is her pillar, the only thing she can rely on;

The third can be her bane, or her greatest weapon,

But in the end, only one will pierce the darkness…

Using darkness itself."